Kawasaki Vulcan - any thoughts on these?

[old mark]

I'm idly thinking about a Vulcan. Someone nearby has one and it looks great, so I chacked a few reviews online and it seems like a lot of folks really like them. Thinking of a medium cruiser, 500-750-900.
Any experience or information is appreciated.
FWIW, I am a 61 year old fart, and have not had a ride for about 18 years.

mark

[happyslug]

1. How far can you lift your legs??

Most people while into their 70s can lift up their leg and swing around the back of a cycle to get on it, but if something is wrong with your lower back, hips or legs forget it. I was hiking last summer and fell backward right onto a rock. No outward damage, but it hurt like the dickens for the next two weeks. I could get on my step through Scooter but NOT my bicycle do to the pain. The pain is gone now, but it is something you have to start to think about. If you were 70 I would strongly recommend a Scooter instead just for the fact you can step through the Scooter to get on the seat and NOT life up one of your legs. At 61 you probably have 10-15 years to go before that sets in, but it is something you need to think about. Only you know your health, at 61 my father was still climbing Pittsburgh Steps to get to work, but only you know your health and that is the only problem I can see from buying any type of bike.

[av8rdave]

2. Good news with the Vulcan is that the seat height is fairly low

Have a friend that had a Nomad 1500 for years and loved it. He eventually got rid of it for a Harley. Says every time he rides the Harley he misses his Vulcan!

[old mark]

4. I keep reading good stuff on these bikes,

and I wanted to know if some herehad experience with them .

mark

[old mark]

3. I had a lot of pain in my arms and legs -

My doctor told me I had sometihng similar to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Turned out - after 2 heart attacks the same day - I had blocked arteries and needed a quad bypass.

I'm in great shape now, walking and lifting free weights.
Also got a different doctor.

mark

[Enthusiast]

5. There is a load of low mile used

cruisers out there. Check E-Bay and Craigslist specifically for Vulcans. There are a bunch of used Harleys, Hondas, Yamahas, Triumphs and Suzukis, also. The big Vulcans, the 1500 and 1600, are kind of hard to handle at low speeds but handle really well out on the road. October issue of Cruiser Magazine picked the Vulcan Nomad over the Harley Road king and Victory Vision in a recent test. It was a unanimous choice.

[Shardik]

6. Just saw your post after posting something similar.

What did you finally decide? (And I'm a 55 YO fart. :)